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Attending this milestone test was new Team Principal of Defender Rally, Ian James – also recently announced as Managing Director, JLR Motorsport. Ian will lead the Defender Rally team into Dakar and the W2RC, and joins from McLaren Electric Racing where he was Managing Director and Team Principal.
Defender, the unstoppable 4×4 built for capability and durability, will make its team debut at the 2026 Dakar Rally, where three Defender Dakar D7X‑Rs will compete in the new ‘Stock’ category for production‑based cars. A two‑car Defender entry will then contest the remaining four rounds of the 2026 W2RC.
Putting the D7X‑R to the test was Defender’s world‑class line‑up of drivers – Stéphane Peterhansel, Sara Price and Rokas Baciuška – simulating the challenges they’ll face on the Dakar. This included their co‑drivers utilising the digital navigation ‘roadbooks’ which, on the Dakar, will have each day’s route available to view just minutes before a timed stage begins.
It’s an honour to be leading the Defender Rally team as we enter the almighty world of rally‑raid competition in 2026, the first of a three‑year programme. With a world‑class driver line‑up and team in place, and the first competition‑spec Defender Dakar D7X‑R now showing its capability in the desert, I’m looking forward to working through the rest of the extensive preparations ahead of Dakar in January. We’ve still much work to do, but we’re all determined to make 2026 a memorable year in World Rally Raid for the Defender brand.
Ian James
Team Principal of Defender Rally
We made the decision to enter the World Rally‑Raid Championship as it’s the ultimate stage to showcase Defender’s renowned capability and durability. The new Defender OCTA has set a high bar in terms of tough luxury and seeing it transform into an unstoppable Dakar contender is remarkable. Now, with just three months to go until we will take the start ramp in Yanbu, I am proud of how this team is taking shape. We have a stellar line‑up of drivers and co‑drivers and a fantastic strategic and operational staff in place all now led by Ian James as Team Principal. With the first of the competition Defender Dakar D7X‑Rs completing this test everything is on track. I can’t wait to see us taking to the dunes at Dakar.